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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Today I’m in the studio with one of my online artist friends, Stacey of Artsnark Artifacts. Stacey and I belong to a few of the same Etsy teams (VAST and DSG) and she is one of my more faithful blog followers.

But first, sit back and enjoy my visit with Stacey of Artsnark Artifacts, an interesting, uniquely talented artist.

FK: Tell me about yourself, Stacey.

When I was little, someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I answered "Eccentric!" (I was a weird kid). I've traveled a path filled with odd jobs, wonderful characters & interesting places. Some of them find their way to ArtSnark's Artifacts.

FK: You are a very busy artist! How many shops do you have?

Etsy:Art - http://artsnark.etsy.com/Supplies and Vintage - http://colorthesky.etsy.com/Steampunk/Assemblage Supplies - http://steamdreams.etsy.com/Blog - http://www.artsnark.blogspot.com/You can also find me on DeviantArt, ZNE, Creative Souls and at Arts On 9th in Tampa, FLFK: I love your drawings. Actually, I’m very jealous because my drawings suck. Your drawings just pull me in –they have mystery and such depth that they make me want to know more about the subjects. And I love the quotes you put with some of your drawings as well. Tell me a little about your artistic process.

Art, like nature, is organic. It is constantly evolving. Experimenting with a variety of techniques and mediums is an integral part of my creative process.

For many years I had no interest in color. I was more about the shape & feel of a thing. Charcoal drawing was a meeting point for my two favorite art forms, sculpture and photography. While drawing, I preferred to use my hands rather than brush or pencil. Working the charcoal with my fingers lets me “feel” the image. Although the final product is 2-dimensional the process is similar to sculpting. I have a few of these drawings posted over at http://artsnarks-artifacts.deviantart.com/

While I have always been enchanted by light and shadow, I only became interested in color about 7 yrs ago through nature photography and alternative photographic techniques like Polaroid transfers.

FK: You have so much going on – do you ever suffer burnout?

About 6 yrs ago I hit a dry spell. I hadn’t realized how much I missed making things until I started again in Feb 08 when I discovered Art Trading Cards & the online art group ZNE http://www.znestore.com/. I love ATC’s /ACEOs! They are the potato chips of art. Small & tasty and hard to have just 1.Since then I’ve met the most amazing people online through Etsy, DeviantArt, blogging and other venues. The support & advice that they have given me has been key to resurrecting my muse.

FK: That’s funny – the potato chips of art! So those small and tasty art chips got you creating again …

Creation exists in the moment. It stops time, but it isn’t static. The organic process of becoming is what it’s all about for me. Sometimes I have an image in mind; sometimes I don’t. I take great pleasure in watching a piece Become. If it’s too easy to create, if it’s too polished, I like to push it further - see what it’s hiding, what it really wants to be. At times that “something” fights me every step of the way. But you know what...That’s fun too...like reeling in that tough old fish you’ve been waiting for all day.

I now have lots of work in progress, including several drawings, two 36”H paintings, several “author’s boxes,” jewelry, a digital collage based on Goya and countless toys & gadgets.

FK: Anything else you want to tell us about yourself before we announce your giveaway?

Here’s a few more things about me:Listening To – MonoralReading – Snakebitten: The confessions of a herpetologistThe Collected Works of T.S. SpivetLots of blogsWatching – Mushi-shi (anime series)Collector - tin toys, fossils, original art, eye candy & lots of dust!

All you have to do is make a comment to this post. That’s all! A name will be drawn from all the comments by random number generator NEXT THURSDAY (8/27). Yep, this giveaway is just for one week and is open to anyone, domestic and worldwide. So don't wait.

I love 'Idle Hours'! If I ever have a daughter, this is the type of theme I would use to decorate her room- serene, gentle, fairy-like, feminine. The colors are so soothing. And now I can't wait to check out the 'potato chips of art'! Thanks for the discussion, Felicia and Stacey!

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An Important Note

Please do not use or copy any text or images in this blog in any way whatsoever without my written consent and/or the consent of the artists featured. All rights reserved. Thanks for your consideration.